Evening all...
No lengthy wordage from me this evening but just the highlights to tempt you into a weekend visit....
The Black-necked Grebe remained and had moved to Aveley Pool while the Great White Egret was being very mobile today.
Black-necked Grebe - David Lee
Great White - HTV
Quite a few martins moving through this morning and at least five Willow Warblers mainly around the centre and car park area. The Short-eared Owl was out again late afternoon and the Barn Owl was even up and about at seven this morning!
Late rising Wheatears were seen along the foreshore and four Great Crested Grebes and a Sandwich Tern were along the river. Nine whimbrel, three Bar-tailed and seven Black-tailed Godwits headed north west in the morning and 12 of the Curlew headed up the Mardyke later on so some wader passage is obviously still underway.
Wheatear - David Lee
Andy found at least two Ring Ouzels in the Dartford Bushes before they headed to the Cordite and I picked up another at the end of the Northern Trail as it appeared on a bramble while I was showing someone the Black-necked Grebe from inside the visitors centre!
Ring Ouzel - Andy Tweed
RSPB Rainham Marshes: 3 Ring Ouzel, Great White Egret, Black-necked Grebe, Yellow Wagtail, 5 Willow Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 3 Wheatear, 60 Sand Martin, 15 Swallow, 3 Egyptian Geese, 3 Ruff, 26 Curlew, 35 Snipe, 9 Whimbrel, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, Sandwich Tern, 13 Common Terns, 2ad Med Gulls, 7 Great Crested Grebe, Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 5 Bearded Tits
Anyway, there is plenty to see so fingers crossed for some warmer, brighter weather in the days ahead...
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer